In the north of Greece, above the Aegean Sea, sit the ruins of the ancient city of Philippi. King Philip II of Macedon, the father of Alexander the Great, conquered the city in 356 BC, and changed its name to Philippi. His goal was to take control of local gold mines and establish a garrison at a strategic passage along the Via Egnatia, a 2nd century BC Roman road traveling east to west and crossing modern day Turkey, Greece, North Macedonia and Albania, connecting Asia Minor to Europe.
Philippi is situated about ten miles north of the Aegean Sea. The nearest port is the coastal city of Neapolis (now Kavala). The Via Egnatia ran through Neapolis to Philippi and beyond.
On St. Paul’s second missionary journey in Acts 16, while in Troas in Turkey, he had a vision of a man of Macedonia begging him to “Come over to Macedonia and help us” (Acts 16:9). Paul, Silas and Timothy immediately sailed from Troas to the port of Neapolis. From there they followed the Via Egnatia north to Philippi. A section of the ancient Via Egnatia that Paul traveled as he came up from the port is still visible today.
Paul came to Macedonia to spread the good news of Jesus Christ to a people whose religion was steeped in pantheism and idolatry. God’s love extends to all people. He would have all to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:4). And so, Paul made his way to Philippi, the leading city of the region, Christianity’s first step onto the continent of Europe.
On the Sabbath day, Paul’s usual practice was to enter a synagogue and speak first to the Jews. However, there was apparently no synagogue in Philippi, so Paul and those with him (Silas, Timothy and now Luke) went out of the city to the
Gangites River, where they thought God-fearing people might gather for prayer. Here they found some women who had come together, so they sat down and spoke with them about Jesus. One of the women, named Lydia, a wealthy woman who imported and sold purple cloth in Philippi, heard Paul speak. The Holy Spirit opened Lydia’s heart to listen to the words Paul spoke. She believed the Gospel, and asked to be baptized. She and her entire household were baptized there at the river. Lydia was the first Christian convert in Europe. She persuaded Paul and those with him to stay at her house which they used as the base for their missionary work at Philippi.
Luke writes that it was during this time, as they openly preached the good news of Jesus the Christ, that a slave girl having a spirit of divination began following Paul, and the others as they continued to go out to the river to speak with those gathered there. The girl would continually cry out, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.” This went on for many days.
One day, Paul had had enough. He turned to the girl and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out that very hour (Acts 16:16-24).
But when her masters saw that their means of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them to the marketplace before the rulers. The accusation against them was that they were advocating “customs” that were not lawful for Romans to accept or observe.
To Romans, religion was tied to loyalty and identity. Rome required loyalty to the emperor and the Roman gods. New religions needed legal approval. Paul and Silas were accused of being religious and political agitators.
As the crowd was growing and becoming riotous, the magistrates stripped Paul and Silas of their clothes and commanded that they be beaten with rods. After this, they were thrown into prison, with their feet in the stocks.
About midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly, there was a great earthquake, and the doors of the prison were opened, and everyone’s bonds were loosened. The jailor, seeing that the doors were open, and thinking that the prisoners had escaped, was about to kill himself. But Paul called out and said, “Don’t harm yourself, for we are all here!”
He called for lights and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” And, that very hour, he washed their wounds and he and his entire household were baptized.
God would have all to be saved. We thank and praise Him for Paul, Silas, Timothy, Luke, and all whom He has used to bring the good news of Christ to the world. In our baptismal waters we have been joined to Christ, just as Lydia and the Jailer and their households were. Our sins have been forgiven, and we have been made children of our Heavenly Father.
In these days of Advent, we are reminded to be watchful for Christ’s return when the whole company of the Church of God, believers from Philippi and all over the world, will celebrate together the salvation that God has wrought through the birth, life, death and resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ. To Him be all honor, glory and praise, now and forever! Amen!